Drop tube assembly



Dec. 2, 1941. M. s. JONES DROP TUBE ASSEMBLY Filed March 13, 1941 zz/duEizes IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNiE mien

4 Claims.

This invention relates to aerating or drop tubes used in the manufacture of can ice and comprises more especially an assembly of parts whereby a header can be quickly disconnected from a series or gang of tubes preparatory to being moved out of the path of a hoist.

Connections heretofore used have required more or less handling of the parts with the hands of the operator and this has caused discomfort and delay because of the tendency of the cold metal to freeze or excessively chill the hands.

The connections thus far employed have also been objectionable because the tube supports have been attached to the cans or have other-.

wise been rendered so complicated as to interfere with rapid removal of the header from the tubes and the tubes from the formed blocks of ice.

An object of the present invention is to pro vide drop tubes supported from a header in such manner as to be capable of desired back and forth movement in their cans but utilizing couplings which can be quickly operated to separate the tubes from the header, the tubes being retained in the formed ice blocks while the header is being moved from position thereover.

Another object is to provide drop tubes which can be removed readily from the ice by means of a thawing needle, it being unnecessary to touch with the hands any extremely cold part during the entire operation.

A further object is to provide a drop tube assembly which is of simple, compact and inexpensive construction and can be installed readily in equipment already in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrange ment of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the assembly.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section through the assembly on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figur 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 2, a

wrench being shown in position to disengage the coupling from the drop tube.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I designates the usual air header adapted I to extend over a row of cans and provided at regular intervals with bottom openings, one of which has been shown at 2.

Screwed into the opening 2 is a nipple 3 extending from the cylindrical end 4 of a depending fork 5 and provided with a central passage or bore 6 leading from an air port I. The lower end of the bore is preferably flared as shown at 8.

Alined openings S] are provided in the lower Securely mounted on the lower end portion of finger I3 is a coupling I5 preferably provided with a reduced upper portion I6. mediate angular groove I1 is extended around the coupling and near its lower end the coupling is provided with oppositely extending lugs I8.

A central longitudinal bore I9 is formed in the coupling and one end thereof receives the finger I3 on which it is mounted to slide and rotate. The other end of the bore is reduced in diameter, as at 20 and extends through a tapered nipple 2|.

A sleeve 22 of rubber or other suitable flexible air-tight material is fitted snugly, at its upper end, about the end 4 of fork 5 and, at its lower end, about the coupling member I5. A wire 23 or the like is drawn tightly about the sleeve and secured at its ends, as by twisting them at 24, thereby to hold a portion of the sleeve pressed tightly in groove I1 and provide an air-tight connection.

A portion of a drop tube has been shown at 25. To the upper end of this tube is brazed or otherwise secured a cap 26 having a downwardly tapered bore 29 providing a friction seat for the tapered nipple 2 I, and if desired, projecting wings 28 can be formed on the cap to facilitate handling.

As before explained, the header I is extended over a row of cans inthe usual way and serves to supply air under pressure. One assembly such as herein described is provided for every can and each tube 25 will be suspended the required distance within the center of a can which has An interw been filled with water. During the freezing operation a jet of air will be delivered into the water from the lower end of the tube 25, thereby maintaining agitation and aeration of the water and facilitating the formation of clear ice. Swinging movement of the tube 25, due to the reaction of the air in the water will occur only about the axis of pin II and transversely of the can. Consequently the tube will adjust itself to uneven formations of ice in the side portions of the can until it is frozen in and held against further movement.

After the cakes of ice have been completely frozen the next step always is to shift the header I in order to make way for the can hoist. In the present case this can be done quickly and effectively by using a forked wrench Wproportioned to straddle the coupling [5 and notched at N to receive the studs I8. The tool can be placed in engagement with the several couplings in rapid succession and by giving it a partial turn, it will free the nipple 2? from the engaged cap 26, it being understood of course that pipe 25 is held firmly frozen in the ice. As soon as the operator has cracked the connections between all of the nipples 21 and the heads 2|, the header and the parts joined thereto is raised and moved aside. Before the cans are lifted a thawing needle of the usual constructionis" inserted successively into the drop tubes which thus are released from the ice therearound by the water supplied to the needle. Usually the frictional engagement of the needle with the tube will be sufiicien-t to withdraw the tube with the needle. Otherwise the upward pressure of the liquid discharged from the needle will lift the tube within the ice so that it can be removed easily, by grasping the winged cap 26.

What is claimed is:

1. A drop tube assembly including a forked member having a nipple for attachment to a header, there being an air passage through the member and nipple, a tubular finger suspended for swinging movement in the forked member, a coupling member mounted on the finger, a

tapered nipple depending therefrom, mean on the coupling member for engagement with a tool for rotating the coupling member and its nipple relative to the forked member, and a flexible airtight sleeve surrounding and connected to the forked and coupling members and the parts therebetween.

2. The combination with a header, and a drop tube having a seat therein, of a drop tube assembly including a member connected to and opening into the header, a nipple proportioned to frictionally engage said seat to support the drop tube, a tubular element supported by and mounted to swing relative to said member, a

- rotatable connection between said element and tween said member and connection.

3; The combination with a header, and a drop tube having a seat, of a member connected to and opening into the header, a nipple proportioned to frictionally engage said seat to support the tube, a tubular element supported by and pivoted relative to the member, a movable connection between said element and the nipple, tool-engaging means on said connection for transmitting rotative thrust to said connection: and the nipple from the engaged tool, and an air-tight sleeve joined to the connection and member and surrounding the space therebetween.

4. A drop tube assembly including an air-conducting member for attachment to a header, a nipple proportioned for frictional and supporting engagement with a drop tube, a tubular element supported by and fixed relative to the member, a rotatable connection between said element and the nipple, tool-engaging means on said connection for transmitting rotative thrust to the connection and nipple from an engaged tool, and an air-tight flexible sleeve secured to the member and connection and surrounding the space therebetween.

MARION S. JONES. 

